Waterdog Willy’s across the street from us is the nicest shop around, well, at least the one with the most character. This bait and fishing supply shack sits lonely on a near-empty lot, waiting for the day a developer finally takes over the plot to assemble clone homes. Today though, it sits proudly next to the strip club next door called the Candy Store, where no less than twice a week, we get to listen to the police helicopter hovering overhead as some sex-crazed moron does something stupid so another customer steps in to start a brawl.
I loved this place, every weekend we would
Go out to Bartlett and the verde river, my whole childhood life we would stop here on our way out. Out on cave creek road. So sad to see places like this shut down, wish I had the money to reopen it and bring back its roots and history.
I’m actually looking for the sign that says waterdog Willie on it if anybody can give me any information on that I’d really appreciate it
I have it. I beat the bulldozer to it.
I’m so jealous. This place was owned by my great uncles bestfriend when I was little we spent so much time there. The owner would always save me all the colorful cool looking water dogs and I would bring them home and raise them as pets
This was my Grandfathers house for many yrs. he built it & owned all the property around it, including the site of the Candy Store property as well. When they moved, it was turned into the fishing shop!
This is the coolest comment on my blog I’ve read yet. Not only do I love history, it’s even better with a human touch.
I have the some of the best memories with my father stopping here!
One of the best places of my childhood! I miss this place something fierce
Both my son and I have wonderful memories of WaterDog Willies with my dad. Used to stop there every weekend with always an extra waterdog for me or my daughter to have as a pet. Sure miss it, iconic!
Remember going here every weekend on our way to Bartlett. The boys in my family are fisherman. I loved it there lots of memories. I Tempe had that big Waterdog he never sold. Sad to see it shutdown😩